LMPT Indago COA 2013

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Indago Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle 

COA Application Attachment 
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1. Proponent Information

Refer to online COA application.

2. Point of Contact Information

Refer to online COA application.

3. Operational Description

Refer to online COA application.

4. System Description

Air Vehicle Type: Vertical Take Off and Landing Air Vehicle

Description of System

The Indago VTOL air vehicle is a compact folding quad rotor. It has many modular parts that 

allow for quick replacement in the field. It is able to fly in the wind and rain and has a low 

audible signature. The Indago vehicle can be equipped with various EO and IR camera 

payloads.

The Hand Controller is a complete handheld ground station for the Indago air vehicle. It controls 

the air vehicle, allows complete mission planning and navigation, and displays video, maps, and 

indicators. It also allows configuration of many options and parameters. The Hand Controller 
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can optionally be used in conjunction with a laptop running Virtual Cockpit for more advanced 

mission planning and vehicle configuration.

30 in

30 in

8.75 in tall
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Specifications

Payload 7oz standard, 16 max

Range 2 miles

Endurance 45 min (w/standard payload)

Operating Altitude (Maximum) 18,000 ft MSL

Length 30 in. extended, 12 in. collapsed

Weight 5 lbs

GCS Procerus Hand Controller

Control Station

Assembled GCS

Communication Systems Description

The Indago system utilizes an FCC approved 1W Microhard 900MHz spread spectrum radio for 

command and control. It also uses an independent 1W LawMate 1.2GHz video transmitter for 

the one-way transmission of video from the air vehicle to the ground station.
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Certified TSO Components

N/A

5. Indago Vehicle Performance Characteristics

Climb Rate: 800 ft/min

Descent Rate: 400 ft/min

Turn Rate: 60 deg/sec

Maximum Cruise Speed: 26 knots

Minimum Cruise Speed: 0 knots

Approach Speed: (N/A, hovering aircraft)

Operating Altitude Maximum 18,000 ft MSL

Operating Altitude Minimum 0 ft AGL

Gross Takeoff Weight: 5 lbs

6. Launch/Recovery

Launch procedure is as follows:

1. Unpackage system components

2. Turn on Hand Controller

3. Unfold vehicle by extending arms and landing legs

4. Open end of battery compartment and insert battery to power up vehicle

5. Place vehicle on a flat open area

6. Perform preflight procedure

7. When link is established, arm motors and enter launch mode from the Hand Controller

Recovery procedure is as follows:

1. Enter land mode

2. Disarm motors

3. Remove battery from air vehicle

4. Turn off Hand Controller

5. Collapse vehicle

6. Pack all components in cases

Airworthiness

In process of applying for experimental airworthiness.

7. Procedures
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Lost Link/Mission Procedures

The aircraft mission and failsafe options may be configured and downloaded to the air vehicle at 

any time. Otherwise preloaded default failsafe are used. During flight, the air vehicle can be 

placed in several modes enabling varying levels of autonomy and pilot control. A fully 

autonomous navigation mode is available in which the air vehicle will fly a series of waypoints 

to fulfill a mission. At any time, if there is a lost link event, the air vehicle will continue its 

course until a configurable timeout period is reached at which point it performs the 

preprogrammed failsafe procedure (stage 1). The default for this procedure is to fly to a rally 

waypoint and hover there. If the link cannot be re-established within a second configurable time 

period, the air vehicle will then proceed to execute the final failsafe procedure (stage 2), which is 

usually fly home and land. If the air vehicle is below a predefine altitude, it will climb to the 

preset “minimum go home altitude” and then transition home. This is done to avoid obstacles.

What happens when command link is lost?

Vehicle enters a loss of link failsafe state as described above, unless link is recovered within the 

stage 1 time period.

How does air vehicle respond if link is never re-established?

Vehicle steps through the full failsafe procedure which results in the vehicle landing safely.

How does the air vehicle recognize that loss of command link has occurred? 

The autopilot in the air vehicle is in constant communication with the ground station. If the 

autopilot stops receiving streaming communications, it will commence loss of link procedures.

How does the operator on the Ground Control Station recognize loss of command link has 

occurred?

The operator is alerted by an audible warning and by an indicator on the GCS screen.

Lost Communications Procedures

For the Indago system, lost communications is identical to loss of link.
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Lost Communications between the Pilot and Ground Observers

There is no electronic communications between the pilot and ground observers. Verbal 

communications is sufficient, due to the quiet nature of the air vehicle and the proximity of the 

pilot and observers.

Emergency Procedures

Emergency situations are handled by built in failsafes. These include configurable low voltage 

failsafe procedures, loss of GPS failsafes, etc...

Note: A secondary RC link may be used to manually pilot out of emergency situations. This 

must be done by a skilled RC pilot. This secondary link is not normally included in the Indago 

system.

System Emergency Procedures

Published EPs include:

N/A